BIRMINGHAM City today insisted its planned casino and stadium development remained a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for everyone.

And the club hit back at news of a 6,000-name protest petition against the proposed Birmingham Sports Village plan by saying it had 30,000 signatures in support of the project.

Blues, together with partners Las Vegas Sands, want to transform the 60-acre former Wheels Park site at Saltley, incorporating a new 55,000-seater stadium and creating more than 6,000 jobs.

But, it faces a rival bid from the National Exhibition Centre, and now a petition, revealed in yesterday's Birmingham Mail, which has been handed in by local councillor Tariq Khan.

Perry Deakin, Blues' commercial director, said today that the club was "extremely sensitive" to the opinions and feelings of the local community.

As a result, a community centre had been added to the plans following meetings with local councillors.

But he said: "It is also important to consider that although Birmingham City acknowledges the recent petition submitted on behalf of 6,000-named residents, the project has over 30,000 signatures - a number that is increasing on a daily basis - of those in full support of a project that will regenerate a 60-acre site and create over 6,500 employment opportunities."

Mr Deakin added that the casino only represented less than two per cent of the whole complex.

"We maintain that the Birmingham Sports Village is a once-inalifetime opportunity for the city of Birmingham and its inhabitants, regardless of age, background or religion, and truly represents the best bid for Birmingham."

An official statement from the club said the bid was about regenerating a major area of central Birmingham, on land which is currently heavily polluted.

"It's exactly the sort of proposal which the Government wants to see and it is Birmingham's only realistic opportunity to win the benefits of the UK's first regional casino."

Coun Khan claimed yesterday that the casino would bring antisocial problems to the area, but the Blues' statement said that suggestion was "completely unfounded".